Poll: Who do you want to win the Stanley Cup?

So this may be a touchy and controversial subject for some. Who do you want to win the Stanley Cup?

Yes, we all know everyone in this forum would prefer THE KINGS to win the Stanley Cup, but the Kings weren’t one of the 16 teams to qualify for the playoffs this season. Do you pull for a second team? Is it wrong to pull for a “second team”? Are there any other favorite players or coaches that you might be paying particular attention to and rooting for? Are you of the “Whoever Is Playing The Ducks” mindset? Do you pull for Pacific Division or Western Conference teams? Do you care about division or conference superiority? Are you insecure about the Kings’ legacy, and would you prefer that a one-Cup team doesn’t win for the second time? These are a lot of questions; you don’t have to answer all of them.

LAKI says: How about Calgary? The Flames’ story has been among the most compelling in hockey this season, and there’s nothing really wrong with watching Johnny Gaudreau, a budding American star, have a nice month-long run, is there?

There’s a March Madness-style bracket challenge on NHL.com where you can make your own predictions. Fill out a bracket here and upload it to the comments section below.

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#11 | 6′ 3″ | 224 lb | Age: 29

Bio

As the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Kopitar became the first Slovenian to play in the NHL. Kopitar has spent his entire NHL career with the Kings, and following the 2015–16 season, was named the Kings’ captain. Noted for both his offensive and defensive play, Kopitar was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL in 2016.

#8 | 6′ 1″ | 195 lb | Age: 26

Bio

Bio: Doughty is a Canadian defenceman who was selected second overall by the Kings in the 2008 Draft. Doughty made his NHL debut in 2008 as an 18-year-old and was named to the All-Rookie Team. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Kings, a two-time Olympic gold medallist with the Canadian national team, and a Norris Trophy finalist.

#77 | 6′ 4″ | 215 lb | Age: 31

Bio

Carter began his hockey career playing in the Ontario Hockey League in Canada before joining the AHL and playing for the Philadelphia Flyers. He was then traded to the Colombus Blue jackets before joining the LA Kings in 2012, where he has since won two Stanley Cups with the Kings.

#32 | 6′ 1″ | 218 lb | Age: 30

Bio

Bio: Quick is the current goaltender for the LA Kings and was selected by Los Angeles at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Previously, Quick was a silver medalist with USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He’s won two Stanley Cup championships with the Kings, along with being the most recent goaltender to be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs.